Fujitsu
Building a sustainable 6G ecosysem

Charting a More Sustainable Path to 6G

Dec. 9, 2024
With the promise of ultra-high data rates, ultra-low latency, and ubiquitous coverage for many more devices, 6G will redefine connectivity, empowering innovative new capabilities and immersive use cases.

As we approach the 6G era, the telecom landscape is set to undergo transformative changes. With the promise of ultra-high data rates, ultra-low latency, and ubiquitous coverage for many more devices, 6G will redefine connectivity, empowering innovative new capabilities and immersive use cases. Indeed, expectations for 6G are already high, with visions of holographic and virtual-reality (VR) functions, 3D touch, advances in robotics, and more immersive digital replication.

Yet, the ability to fully realize these capabilities will place much greater demands on networking infrastructure, requiring massive connectivity, performance, and power. What can we expect this network evolution to look like? And considering the resources required, how can the industry chart an economical and environmentally conscious pathway to 6G?

Lay the 6G Groundwork in the Cloud

Without a doubt, the technology transformation from today’s 5G mobile network will require some heavy lifting to enable tomorrow’s 6G vision. The course of this evolution includes technological advances, new deployment approaches, the adoption of new radio-frequency (RF) bands and more economic use of existing spectrum.

Fundamental areas of focus for mobile network operators (MNOs) to achieve this transition successfully will involve increased flexibility, efficiency, and innovation in the way that networks are designed and deployed.

Fueling this ongoing evolution to more agile, flexible networks is increasing reliance on virtualized, cloud-native infrastructure, which is driving a paradigm shift in mobile network technology. Due to this virtualization, compute functions now reside across the network, requiring the ability to respond quickly to real-time demands wherever needed, whether at the edge of the network or the core.

To facilitate this dynamic allocation of resources, radio-access-network (RAN) architecture will require even greater automation, ability, and intelligence. In fact, increasing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will be a necessity to manage and optimize network performance for ultra-high data rates.

Advanced AI/ML functions will allow for network conditions and user behavior to be analyzed in real-time. This, in turn, will enable dynamic network management, resource allocation, and optimized data flow to support varying types of use cases for outstanding quality of experience (QoE) all the way to the network’s edge.

Allocate the Right Radio Resources

In addition to the changing location of compute functions in the network, the location and operation of base-station radio units (RUs) also will need to be modified to support the ultra-high data rates expected with 6G. Specifically, MNOs must selectively use high-frequency bands that offer significantly higher bandwidths compared to lower 5G frequencies, particularly those in the millimeter-wave (7 to 24 GHz) and sub-terahertz (100 to 300 GHz) ranges.

The use of higher frequencies with shorter signal attenuation and limited building penetration capabilities will reduce 6G cell radius, requiring radios to be located closer to subscriber devices. Operating at these frequencies also introduces path loss, limiting spectrum utilization efficiency.

As a result, new higher frequencies are expected to be deployed selectively in locations where their high capacity can be fully used, such as ultra high-density environments and enterprise settings. Other lower-frequency bands will complement high-frequency deployments to offer broader coverage.

Likewise, advanced antenna technologies and new techniques will need to be developed to enhance signal-propagation issues. For example, dynamic spectrum-sharing techniques will be required to enable more flexible and efficient use of available spectrum, which is critical for achieving ultra-high data rates.

By leveraging advanced AI/ML algorithms, 6G networks will predict network congestion and allocate resources accordingly. This will enable dynamic allocation of spectrum resources based on real-time demand and network conditions to optimize data-transfer rates and reduce congestion.

Massively Advanced Antenna Design

Furthermore, massive multiple-input multiple-output (mMIMO) technology will continue to play a crucial role in achieving ultra-high data rates. Advances in mMIMO beamforming techniques will further enhance signal quality, minimize energy waste, and complement the development of more compact and energy-efficient antenna arrays.

Yet, although advanced mMIMO beamforming techniques can help improve capacity, latency, coverage, and energy efficiency, implementing mMIMO in the lowest frequency bands often presents challenges. With the need for additional antenna elements, mMIMO antennas tend to be larger and more cumbersome than traditional macro-cell radios, complicating deployment where space is limited. This is particularly true for lower-frequency mMIMO antennas, due to the longer wavelengths of low-band frequencies.

Because mMIMO antennas for higher-frequency bands accommodate shorter wavelengths, they’re smaller and more compact, making them well-suited to shorter-range applications for hotspots. Thus, to meet the expected demand for desirable 6G applications, MNOs will need to continue to deploy traditional, non-mMIMO antenna technology for broad coverage, blended with higher-frequency mMIMO antennas to provide high capacity in dense environments.

To address these deployment challenges, the industry is exploring development of advanced antenna designs, such as non-uniform linear arrays (NULAs). This approach involves the use of non-uniform spacing between antenna elements, helping to reduce the overall size and cost of the antenna array while maintaining its performance.

Chart a Sustainable Course

Even before we see 6G networks go live, 5G networks are already driving more power-hungry data traffic, and network demand will only escalate with higher speeds and new applications. It’s estimated that the telecom industry consumes approximately 2% to 3% of worldwide energy use, with RAN operations accounting for more than 80% of overall mobile network power consumption.

While increasing network intelligence is already contributing to some energy-efficiency improvements, such as AI-enabled power-savings capabilities, additional measures will be needed for telecom operators to achieve their stated goal of achieving Net Zero between 2030 and 2050.

Fortunately, the transition to next-generation mobile technology offers the potential to usher in a more environmentally friendly technological landscape. One primary objective of 6G is to enhance energy efficiency of network operations, thereby reducing the power consumption of telecommunications infrastructure. Moreover, a focus on environmentally conscious manufacturing processes will further reduce the overall carbon footprint of network equipment and operations.

Due to similarities between the 5G and 6G air interfaces, many existing 5G RUs are sufficiently programmable to accommodate 6G software upgrades. This allows MNOs to continue using existing 5G hardware and avoid the environmental impact of manufacturing new radios.

In addition, network components capable of supporting multiple radio-access-technology (RAT) functionality can optimize radio access selection and compute offload locations based on energy efficiency. It helps minimize environmental impact of the network without affecting performance and reliability.

The ability to leverage software upgrades to enable 6G functionalities will also allow new AI-powered features, including dynamic cell shaping, to optimize the coverage and capacity of the network based on real-time conditions. Similarly, spectrum-sharing techniques such as multi-RAT spectrum sharing (MRSS) will allow for MNOs to further improve network efficiency and capacity through software updates.

Ultimately, 5G radios designed to be software-upgradable to support 6G functionalities will let MNOs extend the lifespan of their current investments. This not only enables return on investment over a longer period of time, but also reduces the need for new hardware and minimizes electronic waste, promoting an economical, environmentally conscious and efficient transition to 6G.

To the Next “G” and Beyond

With the promise of massive connectivity, revolutionary capabilities, and an increasingly digitalized future, the 6G era will transform how we interact with mobile technology. This transition will necessitate a balanced approach that leverages existing infrastructure, while incorporating innovative RF technologies to meet future demands.

By combining spectrum in use today with strategic deployment of high-frequency spectrum, as well as implementing advanced technologies through software upgrades, we can chart a more sustainable path forward to tomorrow’s telecommunications landscape.

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6G future developments
Cellular

Migrating the Mobile Ecosystem Forward

While the industry is evolving and migrating forward into 6G-based mobile systems, it's important to address both infrastructure issues as well as device functionality.

About the Author

Rob Hughes | Head of Wireless Solutions Marketing, Fujitsu

Rob Hughes is Head of Wireless Solutions Marketing at Fujitsu.

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